WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER Melanie Barnes has already played her part in ensuring the award-winning documentary Radical Wollongong saw the light of day. Now the Wollongong resident wants the masses to see another "very important" piece of Wollongong history told on film. In the process, producer Barnes wants to make a film that "inspires a new generation of women by showing that injustice can be overcome". She is part of a group of Wollongong and Sydney filmmakers who have launched a $25,000 crowdfunding drive to make a dramatic feature film on the historic Jobs for Women campaign at the Port Kembla steelworks. The film is based on the incredible true story of women who ignited a campaign that changed Australia. What began as a handful of working class women confronting BHP - the country's richest and most powerful company - grew into a community-wide battle from the factory gates to the highest court in Australia. "I was involved in making Radical Wollongong and we covered this film a little bit ... but when we showed this section of the film everyone responded and they were so inspired by it that we realised we had to turn it into a film," Barnes said. She said this film needed to be made because women today again had to stand up for their rights and challenge sexism. "Women won the right to work at the steelworks by refusing to accept discrimination, and building an alliance among the local community who supported their struggle and helped them win," Barnes said. Paul Benedek, one of the film-makers, said the crowdfunding campaign had to raise $25,000 in 50 days from May 1 to June 21. "It's all or nothing - if we don't make the target, we don't get a thing!" he said. "In return for pledging, people will get great rewards, from copies of the film, to tshirts, to being in the film itself." Wollongong arts funding organisation Culture Bank kicked off the campaign with a $1000 donation. People wishing to donate can visit pozi.be/JobsForWomen. Information: jobsforwomenfilm.com/ or facebook.com/JobsForWomenFilm

Film highlights women's job campaign

Producer Melanie Barnes is one of a group of film-makers starting a crowdfunding campaign to get a local film made. Picture: KIRK GILMOUR

WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER

Melanie Barnes has already played her part in ensuring the award-winning documentary Radical Wollongong saw the light of day.

Now the Wollongong resident wants the masses to see another "very important" piece of Wollongong history told on film.

In the process, producer Barnes wants to make a film that "inspires a new generation of women by showing that injustice can be overcome".

She is part of a group of Wollongong and Sydney filmmakers who have launched a $25,000 crowdfunding drive to make a dramatic feature film on the historic Jobs for Women campaign at the Port Kembla steelworks.

The film is based on the incredible true story of women who ignited a campaign that changed Australia.

What began as a handful of working class women confronting BHP - the country's richest and most powerful company - grew into a community-wide battle from the factory gates to the highest court in Australia.

"I was involved in making Radical Wollongong and we covered this film a little bit ... but when we showed this section of the film everyone responded and they were so inspired by it that we realised we had to turn it into a film," Barnes said.

She said this film needed to be made because women today again had to stand up for their rights and challenge sexism.

"Women won the right to work at the steelworks by refusing to accept discrimination, and building an alliance among the local community who supported their struggle and helped them win," Barnes said.

Paul Benedek, one of the film-makers, said the crowdfunding campaign had to raise $25,000 in 50 days from May 1 to June 21.

"It's all or nothing - if we don't make the target, we don't get a thing!" he said.

"In return for pledging, people will get great rewards, from copies of the film, to tshirts, to being in the film itself."